Tag: eggless


Jun
2013

Farfalle with Fresh Coriander and Cashew Pesto

categories: Dinner, Lunch, Summer

As I have proclaimed here before…. I looovvveee pasta!

And my all time favorite pasta sauce is basil pesto.

But then I came across this creamy coriander pesto & now, I have a new favorite!

Fresh coriander & Cashew Sauce2

On a rainy evening, hubby & I were sipping coffee at our favorite cafe located down the street from our house. They have quite a versatile menu and I really love the place. One pasta sauce in there really caught my eye and I had to order it immediately. It was a spicy coriander and cashew sauce prepared in cream cheese and was served over Conchiglie (shell shaped) pasta.

The dish was so delectable that I had to replicate it at home with bit of a guesswork. Of course my version differed from theirs as I did not use cream cheese and did not add red chili flakes. But it was every bit as scrumptious if not better! Now would I lie to you? NO! So believe me 🙂

It is a pesto sauce so you have your usual suspects.. fresh herb, garlic and nuts!

The pesto has a fresh summery fragrance from fresh coriander and a rich texture from cashews. I used Farfalle pasta instead as that is what I had on hand.

You would be really surprised at how creamy it turned out and pretty low in calories too! Very delicate dish all in all! 🙂

So let’s get down to the recipe!

Fresh coriander & Cashew Sauce1

Farfalle with Fresh Coriander and Cashew Pesto

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups Farfalle pasta, cooked al dente as per the package direction
  • 2 cups fresh coriander leaves (packed into measuring cup)
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/3 cup cashews, soaked in water for 2-3 hours
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 cup hot milk and 1 cup hot water, mixed together
  • 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (I omitted it)

Directions:

  1. Cook 2 cups of Farfalle pasta in salted boiling water as per the direction mentioned on the package. Once pasta has cooked al dente, drain the water and start preparing the sauce.
  2. Add coriander leaves, garlic cloves, soaked cashews, pinch of salt and 1/4 cup milk in a blender and blitz till you get a soft puree. Add little milk if required.
  3. In a pan, melt the butter and add flour to it. Let the flour cook for about 3-4 minutes on a low heat.
  4. Add hot milk and hot water mixture to the pan and whisk to make sure there are no lumps. Add grated cheese. Cheese will melt and mixture will thicken a bit in about 5 minutes.
  5. Add pureed coriander mixture in a pan and whisk. Season with salt and pepper as per your taste. Add red chili flakes if you want a hint of spice. Add pasta to this and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes so that pasta has absorbed the sauce. Serve immediately.
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Jun
2013

Peach Upside-Down Mini Cakes with Lemony Bits

categories: Cakes, Cupcakes & Muffins, Summer

Peach Upside-Down Mini Cake5

!!!Happy Father’s Day!!!

I know I am about a week early for Father’s day post but I just couldn’t stop myself from posting this scrumptious desert li’l bit early as it’s my dad’s birthday on June 9. We stay miles apart so he would not be able to taste it but that couldn’t stop me from baking something special for ‘The Most Special Man’ in my life.

My dad has been the strongest pillar for me and my sis. He is my greatest supporter, admirer and best friend. He has scolded me when he must and patted my back even at my smallest of achievements. He has taught me to ride bicycle and has held me before I fell and hurt myself. He has felt my injuries and illness more than I have suffered from them. I have been able to share anything and everything with him. He is the BEST FATHER I could have ever asked for and I thank my lucky stars everyday for it!

I will not be there to celebrate this special day along with my family but I would like to send my regards and bestest of wishes along his way. Wishing you a very very very Happy Birthday Dad! May God Almighty bless you with the best of health & may all your wishes come true!!!

My dad has been a big fan of summer fruits. As kids I remember my dad bringing bags full of peaches, plums, figs, melons and mangoes uberfresh from Farmer’s Market for us days-after-days. (Actually in case of mangoes, sacks full of it!!!) This is what turned me into biggest fruitaholic! I used to wait on summer holidays for the biggest fruit bonanza to begin so that I could keep hogging on freshest of produce!

So on his special day I decided to bake using something which bound us as a family. Our love for summer fruits being one of it! I bring to you a very simple yet decadent ‘Peach Upside-Down Mini Cakes with Lemony Bits’

Be sure to bake this for Father’s Day to make your dad feel extra-special!
Its not extravagant but will surely please your dad!

Peach Upside-Down Mini Cakes with Lemony Bits

Yields: 4 mini cakes

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 medium peaches, peeled, cored and diced
  • Lemon zest of 2 lemons
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup, plus 2 Tbsp whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Ice-cream, whipped cream or sweetened yogurt for serving (optional), I served mine with vanilla ice-cream and it tasted divine!

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F/170 C. Grease each of 4 (8-oz) ramekins with 1/2 Tbsp of butter. In a small cup, melt rest of the butter and keep aside.

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Sprinkle 1 Tbsp brown sugar evenly at the bottom of each ramekin.
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Mix diced peaches with lemon zest and ground cinnamon and divide them equally among 4 ramekins.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, yogurt, milk, vanilla and the reserved melted butter.  Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir gently to barely combine. Do not over-mix.

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Spoon batter over peaches, diving equally.

Place ramekins on baking sheet and let it bake for 23-25 minutes or till the toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Transfer ramekins to cool on wire rack.

Peach Upside-Down Mini Cake4
If serving immediately let cool for 5 minutes and run a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn upside down onto serving plate. Serve topped with ice-cream, whipped cream or sweetened yogurt, if desired or as is.

If you are baking ahead of serving time then let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before releasing them from ramekins as the sugar and fruit juices would have thicken a bit by then. Re-hit in the microwave for 20-25 seconds before serving.

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/170 C. Grease each of 4 (8-oz) ramekins with 1/2 Tbsp of butter. In a small cup, melt rest of the butter and keep aside. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp brown sugar evenly at the bottom of each ramekin.
  2. Mix diced peaches with lemon zest and ground cinnamon and divide them equally among 4 ramekins.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, yogurt, milk, vanilla and the reserved melted butter.  Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir gently to barely combine. Do not over-mix. Spoon batter over peaches, diving equally.
  4. Place ramekins on baking sheet and let it bake for 23-25 minutes or till the toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Transfer ramekins to cool on wire rack.
    If serving immediately let cool for 5 minutes and run a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn upside down onto serving plate. Serve topped with ice-cream, whipped cream or sweetened yogurt, if desired or as is.
    If you are baking ahead of serving time then let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before releasing them from ramekins as the sugar and fruit juices would have thicken a bit by then. Re-hit in the microwave for 20-25 seconds before serving.

Enjoy with your family! 🙂

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May
2013

Mini Mango No-Bake Cheese Cake

categories: Cakes

Mini Mango Cheese Cake1

Mother’s day is just round the corner (May 12th) so I guess its high time we talk about it. MOTHER is the most celebrated person in everyone’s life!

My mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me… Ever! She has been an inspiration, a best friend, a constant supporter and a role model. She has taught me many things and one of the best thing has been ‘to care’.

So let’s pamper her on at least this one day dedicated completely to mothers. She deserves brunch that she doesn’t have to prepare and to be showered with gifts she did not have to wrap. One day in a year is not too much to ask for when our mothers have stuck with us throughout during our various temper-tantrums. It’s waaay too little in fact!

So here is an inspiration dessert to make your Mother’s day celebration even more memorable! Your mumma will be proud of you! And don’t you think that this cheese cake going to be difficult to make. In fact its so easy that it will be ready even before you know it. Such an easy, no-bake treat and can be prepared in advance! 🙂

Mini Mango Cheese Cake2

I have used the recipe featured in Masterchef Australia by Matt Moran (he is sooo cute!).

Servings: Makes 8 individual mini mango cheese cakes, Requires: 8 silicone molds (I used heart shaped)

Ingredients:

For cheesecake base:

  • 8 digestive biscuits, coarsely crumbled
  • 2 Tbsp butter, melted

For cheesecake filling:

  • 250 gm mango puree (I pureed mango Alphonso)
  • 250 gm cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup caster sugar (or more if your mangoes are not so sweet.. mine were)
  • 1 Tbsp unflavored gelatin
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 2 tsp lemon/lime juice
  • 1/4 cup mango, diced into small cubes
  • Mint leaves, to garnish

Directions:

  1. Mix crumbled digestive biscuits and butter in a small bowl. Take 1 Tbsp of crumble mixture and press at the base of the silicone mold with a flat based glass. Repeat the procedure for rest of the molds and put them in refrigerator until you prepare the cheesecake filling.
  2. In the blender, process mango puree, cream cheese and caster sugar till smooth.
  3. Sprinkle the gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and let it rest for 2 minutes to soften. Place the bowl in a microwave for 30 seconds on High, until the gelatin dissolves.
  4. With the motor of the blender running, add the melted gelatin slowly to the cheesecake filling mixture and process until smooth then add lemon/lime juice.
  5. Divide the filling among the molds, place into the fridge to set for 2-3 hours.
  6. Un-mold the cheesecake carefully from the silicone mold by passing the knife around the edges. Serve it topped with mango cubes and a mint leave.

*You can substitute agar agar or chinagrass for gelatin to make it completely vegetarian.

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